BREAKING Donald Trump’s £297million White House ballroom plans halted by US appeals courtroom
Donald Trump may have to face a Supreme Court showdown if he wants to continue with the construction of his White House ballroom, after a federal appeals court dealt a major setback today
Donald Trump’s plans to the cha cha at the White House may have to wait (file)(Image: AARON SCHWARTZ, AFP via Getty Images)
Donald Trump may have to wait a little longer for his £297million White House ballroom, after the MAGA administration was ordered to stop its construction.
A federal appeals court dealt the latest setback to the controversial project today (Friday, August 7), which sets up a Supreme Court appeals showdown, the BBC reports.
“Whether or not a massive ballroom should be constructed is for Congress to decide and is not a matter for Executive self-help,” the panel’s majority said.
The order upholds a preliminary injunction which was won by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The body sued Trump’s administration after the White House’s East Wing was torn down last year without congressional approval in order for the project to begin.
An excavator works to clear rubble after the East Wing of the White House was demolished on October 23, 2025(Image: Getty Images)
“Congress has not ceded unfettered authority to the Executive Branch to dramatically redesign, reshape, and reconstruct the White House, the People’s House, to fit a particular President’s desires,” the panel said.
The three-judge panel, in a 2-1 decision, said: “Each President is a temporary tenant, not the owner, of the White House and its Executive Residence.”
“The President has no constitutionally assigned authority over that property, which is designed and maintained for the use of all Presidents, current and future, and for the American people,” the opinion said.
Architect Shalom Baranes shows a site plan for the White House ballroom(Image: Getty Images)
This is a breaking news story and is being constantly updated. Please refresh the page regularly with the latest news, pictures and videos.
**You can also get email updates on the day’s biggest stories straight to your inbox ** by signing up for our newsletters.
Get all the very best headlines, pictures, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you by following Daily Star every time you see our name.
**Follow Daily Star on Android – ** CLICK HERE
**Follow Daily Star on Apple – ** CLICK HERE
**Follow Daily Star on Snapchat – ** CLICK HERE
You can also sign up for Twitter alerts for breaking news by following @dailystar for all the latest updates.
Keep up-to-date with your must-see news, features, videos and pictures throughout the day by following us on Facebook at Daily Star.
